Splitter officially a Spur … now what?

The Spurs released their official announcement regarding Tiago Splitter at about 3:10 p.m.:

“The San Antonio Spurs today announced they have signed Tiago Splitter. The 25-year-old Splitter was selected by the Spurs with the 28th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not announced.”

Update: Mike Monroe reports Splitter’s contract is for three years and for $11 million total starting at $3.4 million.

From Tiago Splitter news conference beginning at about 3:40 p.m.

“I’m very happy to be a San Antonio Spurs. It’s been three years for me and San Antonio to wait for this moment. I’m very happy. I knew that I want to be part of the NBA, part of the San Antonio Spurs. You never know when.

“My game in Europe is mostly low post. I’m a center. I can run the floor quickly for my size I think. I like to play pick and roll.

“They’re the team since I’m a kid. I know them very well. I’m very happy to be here in San Antonio. For sure we’re going to have fun.

“I told R.C. (Buford) and Pop (Gregg Popovich), when I started wearing 21 it was because I love the way Tim Duncan plays. He was one of my idols. Now that they change my number, I don’t care.

“I decided I want to come here. I feel I’m in the right moment. Three years ago when San Antonio drafted me I knew it was impossible for me to come here. I signed a new contract in Europe. I improved my game a lot.

“I know the (NBA) game is different. I also know I know how to play this game. I will try to be the smartest and strongest I can do.”

More details coming soon from Mike Monroe

* * * * *

The Spurs have called a 3 p.m. press conference this afternoon. Unless it’s to announce that the AT&T Center is changing its concessions from Coke to Pepsi, it’s safe to say the Spurs have at long last signed their 2007 first-round draft pick.

Tiago Splitter will be wearing silver and black next season.

Next question: What does that mean?

Splitter, the 6-foot-11 Brazilian selected 28th overall three Junes ago, is widely regarded as the top big man in Europe. Depending on who you talk to, he might be the best player, period. He’s big, and long, an excellent rebounder and natural shot blocker.

He represents an automatic upgrade on the Spurs’ frontline, either next to or behind Tim Duncan.

Will he be an All-Star? Probably not. Dominating Europe isn’t the same as dominating the NBA.

Still, Splitter represents the best player the Spurs were likely to add this summer armed with the mid-level exception. The last Spanish League MVP drafted by the Spurs — a guy named Luis Scola — averaged 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds as a rookie. Though Splitter is a completely different player than Scola, it would be reasonable to expect a similar contribution.

The level of Splitter’s impact will be directly tied to how quickly he can make the adjustment from Europe to the NBA. Just ask Manu Ginobili, who made a similar jump before the 2002-03 campaign.

“The first year is basically all about adjustments — getting to know the rules, your opponents, understanding the system,” Ginobili said. “We’ve got a pretty complex system and players usually take a bit to get used to us.”

One of Ginobili’s former Argentine teammates, Fabricio Oberto, took an entire season to master what was and was not considered a moving screen in the NBA. The rules are applied differently in Europe.

Ginobili also said it will take Splitter a while to get used to defending bigger, stronger big men than he his used to dealing with overseas.

“Knowing how to guard (Dwight) Howard, or (Pau) Gasol or Amare (Stoudemire) — it’s all new,” Ginobili added. “In Europe, you don’t face players that are that athletic and that strong.”

It took three summers and a good deal of negotiation for the Spurs to convince Splitter to join them. Now that he’s prepared to sign, the hard work begins.